Container handle

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a strap handle  10, 110  for a packaging container  1, 100  formed from a resilient plastics material. The strap handle  10, 110  is formed with a neck  11, 111  and a head  12,   112  which are configured to interact with each other so that when positioned adjacent the container  1, 100  the head  12, 112  is urged to locate substantially parallel with an underside of the container  1, 100.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to New Zealand Patent Application No. 709315 filed on Jun. 19, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates a handle strap for a packaging container. More specifically the handle strap is of the kind formed from a resilient plastics material for use in handling containers formed from thin plastics material. The packaging containers may be of the kind intended to be disposed or recycled once the package contents have been discharged such as seedling punnets. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to packaging containers of the foregoing kind however the invention is not so limited.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Plastics material containers used for packaging dischargeable contents is often formed from a thin walled plastics material to minimise the cost of production. Material for such packaging is thin walled and may have a wall thickness as little as 0.3 mm. The plastics material is typically vacuum moulded into the shape of a container for carrying a product and often disposed of after the product is used. Typical applications for such containers are seedling punnets.

To allow such packaging to be easily carried a separate plastics strap handle may be attached to the container. Where this occurs the seedling punnets include elongate or slot shaped apertures that extend through the top surface of the container to allow attachment of the strap. The apertures are typically longitudinally disposed and adjacent each punnet end. FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a typical punnet 1 that has elongate apertures 2 disposed at each end facilitating an attachment with a strap.

NZ593054 describes a strap for attachment to the apertures of a seedling punnet wherein the V section provides rigidity to the plastic by way of a three dimensional structure. The resilience and elasticity of the plastic at the point of the V section enables the mechanism to expand to fill the slot and provide a good lock when in use. However, a disadvantage has been identified in that the design of this strap may cause tearing of the container to occur as the container is carried by the strap. Tearing potentially causes the container to break free from the strap and the contents of the container to be spilled.

In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are part of the common general knowledge in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a strap handle for a packaging container that has at least two spaced apart strap handle mounting apertures, the strap handle comprising:

-   -   an elongate strap handle of resilient plastics material having         an aperture engaging section at each end, at least one aperture         engaging section comprising:     -   a reduced width section forming a neck with a head outwardly         thereof but set in from an end section of the strap handle, the         end section comprising a tongue, both the tongue and the neck         being of a width not more than the intended width of the         aperture to which they are to engage,     -   wherein the head comprises an upper surface adapted to bear the         load of the container.

It is preferred that the head and the neck are configured to interact so as to assist the upper surface of the head to engage the container. This surface contact of the head with the container spreads the load and reduces the likelihood of the container material tearing. It is further preferred that the head has a proximal end and the neck intersects with the head at a location spaced from the proximal end. The spacing of the intersection of the head with the neck from the proximal end reduces the likelihood that the proximal edge alone engages the container. It is still further preferred that the head has a distal end associated with the tongue with a central zone between the proximal end and distal end, the said location of the intersection of the neck with the head is between the proximal end and the central zone. This arrangement balances the location of the forces to encourage the upper surface of the head to engage the container. In a preferred arrangement the said location of the intersection of the neck with the head is substantially midway between the proximal end and the central zone however this may vary.

It is preferred that a fold line is formed at said location of the intersection of the head with the neck, the fold line having a length that is no more than half of a width of the head. It is further preferred that the fold line is centrally located between opposed sides of the head.

It is preferred that the neck includes at least one lug that projects laterally therefrom that inhibits movement of the neck through the handle mounting aperture when in use. It is further preferred that the neck includes a pair of lugs on opposed sides of the neck. It is still further preferred that the or each lug is spaced from the head by a distance of no greater than twice a thickness of material forming the container adjacent the handle mounting aperture. This arrangement of the lugs reduces the likelihood of the neck moving through the aperture when the handle is not being used to lift the container.

It is preferred that the tongue includes a stop at a distal end thereof that projects laterally therefrom that inhibits movement of the tongue through the handle mounting aperture when in use. It is further preferred that the stop projects laterally out of opposed sides of the tongue. It is still further preferred that the stop is spaced from the head by a distance of no greater than three times a thickness of material forming the container adjacent the handle mounting aperture. This arrangement encourages the upper surface of head to remain in a position to engage the container when the handle is used to lift the container.

The strap handle may be formed from any suitable substrate however it is preferred that it is substantially planar.

According to one preferred arrangement the neck and the head interact so that at least 30% of the upper surface of the head engages the container, however this percentage may vary. According to another preferred arrangement the neck and the head interact so that the upper surface of the head is substantially parallel with an underside surface of the container adjacent the handle mounting aperture, however this may vary by up to 10°.

It is preferred that the strap handle including a main body between each aperture engaging section, the main body being wider than the or each neck. It is further preferred that the body includes a pair of shoulders at opposed ends of the main body adjacent the or each neck.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a strap handle in combination with a packaging container, the strap handle being as herein before defined, and the packaging container formed from a plastics material, wherein the plastics material is less than 0.3 mm thick. It is preferred that the packaging container is a vacuum formed container, however this may vary.

As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or both. As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

The term “comprising” as used in this specification means “consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement or claim, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprised” are to be interpreted in the same manner.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in greater detail by reference to the accompanying drawings which show two example embodiments of the invention. The particularity of the drawings and the related detailed description is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates one such example of a container typically used in the horticulture industry.

FIG. 2 shows a particular embodiment of a strap handle suitable for with the thin walled plastics containers such as the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the end portion of the strap folded about the fold line toward the remainder of the strap.

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the strap engaged with a container.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of a further preferred embodiment of a strap handle according to the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an isometric view of the strap handle from FIG. 5 being attached to a preferred embodiment of the packaging container.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the strap handle when inserted through the aperture in the packaging container from FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a thin walled plastic container 1 of the kind often used in the horticulture industry where the containers 1 are used as seedling punnets. Traditionally, seedling punnets have an elongate aperture 2 located at either end which is longitudinally disposed to the container 1. The container 1 has multiple compartments 3 and slot shaped apertures 2 (hereinafter slot 2 or aperture 2) disposed at opposing ends and extending through the top surface of the container 1. While FIG. 1 illustrates one such example of a container 1 typically used in the horticulture industry there are clearly others incorporating different configurations possible. These other configurations may include adjustment of the number and location of the compartments 3, or location of the slots 2.

The strap handle 10 (see FIG. 2) is made of a thin walled resilient plastics material adapted at each end to engage with and span between the apertures 2 of the container 1. FIG. 2 shows a particular embodiment of a strap handle 10 suitable for with the thin walled plastics containers 1 such as the seedling container 1 shown in FIG. 1. The strap handle 10 comprises a reduced width section forming a neck 11 and a head 12 outwardly thereof. The head 12 is set in from the associated end of the strap handle 10 and the end section outwardly of the head forms a tongue 13. In some embodiments, the tongue 13 comprises a tapered tip 14 as shown which may promote ease of engagement with the aperture 2. In other embodiments, the tongue extends uniformly from the head 12, or even provided with a flared distal portion as will be described with reference to FIG. 5. Typical dimensions of the strap 10 are a side wall thickness of around 0.5 to 1 mm and a minimum width of the upper and lower surfaces of at least 4 mm in the narrowest region, or a minimum width commensurate with the width of the aperture 2 to which the strap 10 is to engage with.

The neck 11, head 12 and tongue 14 are longitudinally centred about the longitudinal centreline of the strap 10 to promote balance of containers 1 being carried by the strap 10. The neck 11 and tongue 12 are preferably of a lateral width that is narrower than the lateral width of the aperture 2 in the container 1 for which the strap 10 is to engage with. However, to yield most material strength from these sections, the width of the neck 11 and tongue 12 may be commensurate with the width of the aperture 2.

Conversely, the lateral width of the head 12 is wider than that of the neck 11, tongue 13 and the lateral width of the aperture 2 in the container 1 for which the strap 10 is to engage with. For example, if the lateral width of the aperture 2 is 6 mm, the lateral width of the head section 12 of the strap 10 could be 7 mm or more. To maximise the load carrying ability of the strap 10, the head 12 should be as wide as possible while ensuring that insertion into aperture 2 for engagement is possible. More specifically the width of the head 12 can be slightly less than the length of the slot 2.

To assist with engagement with the aperture 2, the head 12 is to be folded about the junction with the neck 11. FIG. 2 shows a transverse fold line 15 is indicated at the junction between the neck 11 and the head 12. FIG. 3 shows one end of the head 12 folded outward about the junction with the neck 11 toward the remainder of the strap handle 10. Folding is typically achieved by pinching these sections 11, 12 of the strap handle 10 substantially together between thumb and forefinger. In this mode, the strap handle 10 can be twisted to rotate these folded back sections to an “on edge” disposition substantially aligned with the longitudinal disposition of the container aperture 2. The head may then be inserted into and through the slot shaped aperture 2 to position both the neck 11 and tongue 13 to extend upwardly back through the aperture 2. At this stage, the folded together sections can be reverse rotated and released such that the laterally extending portions of the head 12 is located on the underside of the material of the container 1 proximate the apertures 2. The release also provides that the neck 11 and the tongue 13 are disposed to impinge onto the inward and outward ends respectively of the aperture 2, and in doing so, the tongue section 13 overhangs the upper side of the container material and extends outwardly. The folding of the head 12 and neck 11 together with the resiliency of the strap 10 forms a spring-back to provide a positive engagement of the strap handle 10 to the container 1.

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the strap 10 engaged with the container 1. In particular, the strap 10 including the neck portion 11 extends downward into the aperture 2. The strap 10 is folded about the junction 15 between the neck 11 and head 12 to extend from the longitudinal inward portion 2 a of the aperture 2 toward the longitudinal outward portion 2 b. The head portion 12 of the strap 10 extends laterally for planer engagement with the underside of the container material 2 c immediately proximate to the aperture 2. The tongue portion 13 of the strap 10 extends from the head 12 on the underside of the aperture 2 to the upper side of the aperture 2 and outward toward the outside of the container

A typical resilient strap handle 10 for use with carrying seedling punnets is elongate and thin between upper and lower side and includes a reduced width section adjacently inward of each end thereof, the reduced section forming a neck 11 and the associated end section a head 12. The neck 11 and head 12 are configured such that with presentation of the head 12 on edge, or rotated through at least about 60 degrees, the head 12 can be inserted into the slot 2 of the suitable container 1. With reverse rotation, the neck 11 can be located in the slot 2 with the inner end of the head 12 adjacent the underside of the container 1 material surrounding the slot 2. The neck 11 of the strap 10 extends upwardly of clear of the slot 2 and with upward tensioning of the strap 10 the head 12 can be engaged against the aforementioned underside material of the container 1.

Referring now to FIG. 4 which illustrates the load of the container 1 and associated contents whilst being carried by the strap 10 is provides a tension force between the neck 11 and the head 12 engaged with the underside of the container top wall 2 e. The tongue 13 extends from the head and a fulcrum is established at the point where the tongue 13 contacts the outward edge 2 c of the aperture 2. The tongue 13 bears a resulting downward force on the upper side of the container 2 d outward of the aperture 2 in response to the head 12 bearing an upward force on the underside of the container 1 in the region 2 c. This combination of forces acts to flatten the head 12 and the tongue 13 to the underside and upper side respectively of the container top wall 2 e.

In this configuration, the head portion 12 is in a substantially planar alignment with the container material thereby providing a large load bearing surface while maintaining a positive engagement of the strap 10 about the aperture 2. Further, the planar alignment avoids the bearing of any sharp edges, such as the thin side wall of the head 12, against the underside of the material. In this configuration, tearing of the plastics material of the container 1 is substantially avoided.

In some embodiments, the strap 10 may further comprise a crease 16 longitudinally orientated so as to span between the main body 18 of the strap 10 and the neck portion 11. FIG. 2 shows a dashed line depicting an example of the location of the crease 16. The crease may be formed, for example, by slicing and applying force from the underside of the material to as to create a protrusion that extends the length of the crease 16. The crease 16 acts to increase the longitudinal rigidity of the strap 10 in the areas immediately proximate the crease 16.

In some embodiments, the strap 10 may further comprise further creases in regions that benefit from increased longitudinal rigidity. For example, in some embodiments, a second crease 17 is longitudinally orientated so as to span along the tongue 13 of the strap 10. The crease 17 acts to increase the longitudinal rigidity of the tongue in the region where the tongue spans from the lower side to the upper side of the aperture 2.

Referring now to FIG. 5 which illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the strap handle 110, where the like features from the strap handle 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 are referred to with like reference numerals with the prefix of 100. Accordingly in summary the strap handle 110 has a main body 118 with a neck 111 extending longitudinally out opposed sides of the main body 118. A head 112 is attached to each neck 111 which is wider than the neck 111. A tongue 113 extends out from a distal end of each head 112, and to this extent the strap handle 110 as illustrated in FIG. 5 is substantially similar to the strap handle 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

However where the strap handle 110 illustrated in FIG. 5 is different from the strap handle 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 is that each head 112 has a proximal end 120 proximate at each respective neck 111, whereby the neck 111 intersects or extends from the head 112 at a location that is spaced from the proximal end 120. FIG. 5 illustrates the intersection of the neck 111 with the head 112 being spaced from the proximal end 120 towards the central zone 122 of the head 112, and it is preferred as illustrated that the intersection be substantially midway between the proximal end 120 and the central zone 122 of the head 112.

An additional difference in the strap handle 110 as illustrated in FIG. 5 from that as illustrated in FIG. 2 is the inclusion of a pair of lugs 123 which are formed on opposed sides of the neck 111. It can be noted that the lugs 123 are located close to the fold limb 121 for reasons that will be explained in greater detail with reference to FIG. 7.

A further difference in the strap handle 110 as illustrated in FIG. 5 with the strap handle 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2 is the introduction of a stop 124 formed at a distal end of the tongue 113. The stop 124 illustrated in FIG. 5 is in the form of a disc shape however this shape may vary. The function of the stop will be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

Referring now to FIG. 6 which illustrates one strap aperture engaging section 125 of the strap handle 110 inserted into a slot 102 of the container 100, whilst the opposed aperture engaging section 125 of the strap handle 110 has its head 112 folded back on the neck 111 in preparation for insertion in the opposed slot 102 of the container 110. It should be noted that the stop 124 formation at the distal end of the tongue 113 is laying over and angled substantially parallel with an upper side of the container 100, whilst the neck 111 extends substantially perpendicular to the head 112. Whilst the other aperture engaging section 125 with the head 112 folded relative to the neck 111 illustrate the head 112 is formed with a pair of lobes 126 on opposed sides of the neck 111 which form the proximal end 120 (see FIG. 5) of the head 112. It ought to be appreciated that with the head 112 in this folded configuration that it can be inserted into the slot 102 in the container 100 before it is rotated through 60° to 90° so as to seat the head 112 adjacent an underside of the container 100. It is preferred that the width of the head 112 be no greater than the length of the slot 102 so that the head 112 can be freely inserted into the slot 102.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of part of the strap handle 110 once the head 112 has been inserted into the slot 102. It can be noted that the head 112 as illustrated is substantially parallel to the underside of the container 100. The head 112 is retained in this position by the interaction of the lugs 123 engaging the container 100 on opposed sides of the slot 102 (see also FIG. 6) to inhibit the neck 111 falling through the slot 102 past the lugs 123. Furthermore, the distal end of the head 112 is retained in its position by the folding over of the tongue 113 to engage the upper surface 102 d of the container 102 adjacent the outward portion 102 b of the slot 102. Whilst it is preferred that the lugs 123 on the neck 111 be spaced from the intersection of the neck 111 with the head 112 by no greater than twice the thickness of the material forming the container 100, due to the nature of the folding of the tongue 113 it is preferred that the stop 124 at the distal end of the tongue 113 be spaced from the distal end of the head 112 by a distance of no greater than three times the thickness of the material. Whilst these distances may vary they encourage the head 112 to snugly fit under the underside of the container 100, and to retain in that position regardless of whether a force is being applied to the main body 118 to lift the container 100.

Whilst it is preferred that at least 30 percent of the upper surface of the head 112 engages an underside of the container 100 adjacent the slot 102, FIG. 7 illustrates the vast majority of the upper surface of the head 112 engaging the container 100. It ought to be appreciated that by maximising the surface area contact between the upper surface of the head 112 and the underside of the container 100 reduces the likelihood that forces applied from the strap handle 110 to the container 100 will be localised to the extent that it will tear the container.

Furthermore the spacing of the intersection of the neck 111 with the proximal end 120 of the head 112 creates a fulcrum causing the central zone 122 of the head to rotate up toward the underside of the container 100.

In the embodiments shown the strap handle 10, 110 is symmetrical. However, in alternative embodiments, the strap handle 10, 110 may be asymmetrical in that only one end of the strap 10, 110 comprises the above described engagement.

The strap handle 10, 110 is typically manufactured by cutting or stamping the desired form from a sheet material. For example, a planar plastics sheet material of around 0.4 to 1 mm thickness could be used as the base material from which the strap 10, 110 is cut. The thin side wall of the sheet material becomes the thin side wall of the strap 10, 110 whilst the surface of the sheet becomes the surface or wide dimension of the strap 10, 110. In some embodiments, graphics such as branding or advertising may be applied to the surface of the sheet material by a printing process before or after the strap 10, 110 is cut.

The strap handle 10, 110 and strap handle in combination with the packaging container as herein before described alleviates the problem with existing arrangement as the head 12, 112 is configured to interact with the container 1, 100 adjacent the aperture to provide a much larger surface area engagement. Further, the arrangement of strap features is such that the engagement of pointed strap edges with the surfaces of the container 1, 100 under load is substantially avoided. Tearing of the container material is thereby likely to be substantially reduced and the container is able to be handled with improved reliability.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are included as if they were individually set forth. Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and/or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions of the preferred embodiments herein before provided are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting on the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A strap handle for a packaging container that has at least two spaced apart strap handle mounting apertures, the strap handle comprising: an elongate strap handle of resilient plastics material having an aperture engaging section at each end, at least one aperture engaging section comprising: a reduced width section forming a neck with a head outwardly thereof but set in from an end section of the strap handle, the end section comprising a tongue, both the tongue and the neck being of a width not more than the intended width of the aperture to which they are to engage, wherein the head comprises an upper surface adapted to bear the load of the container.
 2. A strap handle according to claim 1 wherein the head and the neck are configured to interact so as to assist the upper surface of the head to engage the container.
 3. A strap handle according to claim 2 wherein the head has a proximal end and the neck intersects with the head at a location spaced from the proximal end.
 4. A strap handle according to claim 3 wherein the head has a distal end associated with the tongue with a central zone between the proximal end and distal end, the said location of the intersection of the neck with the head is between the proximal end and the central zone.
 5. A strap handle according to claim 4 wherein the said location is substantially midway between the proximal end and the central zone.
 6. A strap handle according to claim 5 wherein a fold line is formed at said location of the intersection of the head with the neck, the fold line having a length that is no more than half of a width of the head.
 7. A strap handle according to claim 7 wherein the fold line is centrally located between opposed sides of the head.
 8. A strap handle to claim 1 wherein the neck includes at least one lug that projects laterally therefrom that inhibits movement of the neck through the handle mounting aperture when in use.
 9. A strap handle according to claim 8 wherein the neck includes a pair of lugs on opposed sides of the neck.
 10. A strap handle according to claim 9 wherein the or each lug is spaced from the head by a distance of no greater than twice a thickness of material forming the container adjacent the handle mounting aperture.
 11. A strap handle according to claim 1 wherein the tongue includes a stop at a distal end thereof that projects laterally therefrom that inhibits movement of the tongue through the handle mounting aperture when in use.
 12. A strap handle according to claim 11 wherein the stop projects laterally out of opposed sides of the tongue.
 13. A strap handle according to claim 12 wherein the stop is spaced from the head by a distance of no greater than three times a thickness of material forming the container adjacent the handle mounting aperture.
 14. A strap handle according to claim 1 wherein the strap handle is substantially planar.
 15. A strap handle according to claim 1 wherein the neck and the head interact so that at least 30% of the upper surface of the head engages the container.
 16. A strap handle according to claim 1 wherein the neck and the head interact so that the upper surface of the head is substantially parallel with an underside surface of the container adjacent the handle mounting aperture.
 17. A strap handle according to claim 1 including a main body between each aperture engaging section, the main body being wider than the or each neck.
 18. A strap handle according to claim 17 wherein the body includes a pair of shoulders at opposed ends of the main body adjacent the or each neck.
 19. A strap handle in combination with a packaging container, the strap handle being according to claim 1, and the packaging container formed from a plastics material, wherein the plastics material is less than 0.3 mm thick.
 20. A strap handle in combination with a packaging container according to claim 19 wherein the packaging container is a vacuum formed container. 